When Knypersley began their response, Ali and Mike Holt were their usual challenge to the batsmen.

Each picked up one of the openers as they were reduced to 45-4.

But the experience of Paul Goodwin (25no), Jonathon Cumberbatch (23) and Andrew Jones (36) stopped the Foxes in their tracks.

Ali’s (3-25) 18 overs yielded just 25 runs, while Chris Winter’s 10 cost just 13. But Goodwin and Liam Hopkins (1no) played out time as Knypersley finished on 129-6.

BETLEY slipped to the bottom of the Premier Division after a 137-run defeat at third-placed Meakins.

They won the toss, invited the hosts to bat first – and were made to regret it.

While Darren Snape (3-115) and Gavin Paton (4-85) had some joy, the first four batsmen all got more than 20 runs before number five Richard Brierley picked up the pace with 91 off 77 balls, including four sixes.

Adnan Rasool added a quickfire 46 as Meakins declared on a commanding 279-9.